Professionalism

The Council on Professionalism encourages actuaries to achieve and maintain a high level of professionalism in their practice. It coordinates its activities with two boards that operate independently and serve the U.S. profession: the ASB and the ABCD. Joeff Williams is the Academy's vice president for professionalism issues.

Professionalism News & Events

Wondering about the differences between the continuing education requirements of the U.S. Qualification Standards (USQS) and the continuing professional development requirements of other actuarial organizations? It is important for actuaries to understand the difference, and the Academy has created useful tools to help actuaries document their compliance with the USQS. (Actuarial Update,April 2018) (April 30, 2018)

The Academy’s professionalism webinars—typically four per year—offer expertise on a range of professionalism topics across all practice areas, and insight from members of the Committee on Qualifications, Actuarial Standards Board, Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline, and other distinguished speakers from Academy boards and committees. (Actuarial Update, March 2018) (March 31, 2018)

More than 2,200 people attended the Academy’s March professionalism webinar, “A Guided Tour of the U.S. Qualification Standards,” which took an in-depth look at issues and commonly raised questions received by the Committee on Qualifications. COQ members Tom Campbell, Keith Passwater, and Hal Tepfer engaged in a lively discussion of the experience requirement, what counts as a statement of actuarial opinion, the “look in the mirror” test, and more. (Actuarial Update, March 2018) (March 31, 2018)

In “Disclosure: The Cornerstone of the ASOPs’ Strength,” Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) Chairperson Beth Fitzgerald outlines the ASB’s process in developing actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs) and the ASB’s role in what disclosures actuaries will need to make to comply with an ASOP, and specifically notes the importance of ASOP No. 41, Actuarial Communications. (Actuarial Update, February 2018) (February 28, 2018)

“New Standards for the New Year,” by Actuarial Standards Board (ASB) Chairperson Beth Fitzgerald, highlights several new actuarial standards of practice (ASOPs)—Nos. 51, 52, and 53—offering explanations behind their promulgation last year, and the role of the ASB’s committees and task forces in creating the ASOPs. (Actuarial Update, January 2018) (January 31, 2018)

Committing on an annual basis to professional objectivity is required to perform volunteer work for all those who participate in Academy committees. D. Joeff Williams, vice president of the Academy’s Council on Professionalism, outlined the policy with a request that volunteers and submit a conflict of interest (COI) acknowledgement and continuing education attestation as soon as possible. Interested parties must also acknowledge the COI policy. (Actuarial Update, January 2018) (January 31, 2018)

In “If You Get That Call,” Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (ABCD) Chairperson Richard Block writes that compliance with the Code of Professional Conduct’s Precept 14, requiring the actuary to cooperate with the ABCD, often boils down to Will Rogers’ adage, “If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” (Actuarial Update, December 2017) (December 31, 2017)

The final professionalism webinar of 2017 delivered a topic that many members have long requested—case studies and examples of professionalism issues that have come before the Actuarial Board for Counseling and Discipline (ABCD). “Tales From The Dark Side: Ethical Cases at the ABCD” featured ABCD members Godfrey Perrott and David Driscoll, who drew upon staples of popular culture to provide entertaining and enlightening examples of such issues. More than 2,300 people attended the Dec. 20 webinar, which was moderated by Academy General Counsel and Director of Professionalism Paul Kollmer-Dorsey. (December 21, 2017)